Matt is with us this week!

Adon, Matt & Calvin playing a handheld video game
We have Matt this week so he can spend some time with us and his cousins who he dearly loves! They have such a good time together and do so well. They seems to be able to find or make up things to do. Matt brought his guitar and a game which he shares with the boys. We have gone to the park, the water park, out for pizza and just generally have a good time together.

Matt at the Water Park

Calvin and Matt at the Water slide

All the boys swimming at the pool

Amanda with Carson and Mason at the pool

Matt and Kael watching a movie and having a snack at bedtime

Matt and Kael having dessert

A puzzle I have been working on for several weeks and finally finished at 3:30 Am this morning. I have been working on this while the boys are busy with games.

Grandkids

Today We spent part of the day with Amanda and Tyler's children while Amanda had some dental work done and tried to sleep off the sedative. I took Carson and Paige home for a little while to do some chores and took this picture of them on our front bench. The kids were so good. We had lunch together, then put Mason down for a nap. Then everyone just did what they wanted for a little while. Nice peaceful day!

Happy Father's Day, Malcolm, Dad, Grandpa!!

Paige and Grandpa having a well deserved rest

Kael, Lindsay and Gram talking about baseball

Mason Enjoying a 3D story book with his glasses

Adon, just looking sweet

We pampered Malcolm for Father's Day. I gave him a basket filled with goodies that are yummy and good for him and fixed one of his favorite dinners and cream cheese cherry pie. I picked up his Mom and Amanda and Lindsay, and some of our grandchildren came over (Tyler just left for boy scout camp)and had dinner with us. Amanda fixed a very clever frame with a picture of her children for Dad. Then we just relaxed and visited all afternoon while Dad received calls from our Children wishing him a Happy Father's Day. I hope your day was special, AF!! Much love from your wife and family!!!

Rock, Paper Scissors

We had quite a chuckle watching Mason play rock, paper scissors with Amanda when they stopped by our home this morning. He is just so cute and has his own twist on accomplishing a new thing - enjoy:

Rachel's Performance

Rachel as Cheshire Cat

We had a delightful time this evening watching Rachel perform as the Cheshire cat in an act from Alice in Wonderland in Napa at a theater arts program. She was just a darling little actress! Brian and Deb got us tickets and we joined Marie, Kristina, Alan and Elise and some other friends for a great evening of entertainment watching little and bigger girls, dance, sing, act in very cute performances!

Brian, Rachel and Deb

Malcolm(Grandpa), Rachel and Patsy(Gram)

Kristina, Marie(Other Gram), & Rachel

"Freedom's Not Free" The Rivoli Revue

We are so blessed to live in a free land and I am grateful for those who have made it possible for us at great sacrifice!

Happy Birthday Malcolm!

Malcolm and his Mom on his 69th birthday!

Malcolm's Mom gave his a $50.00 bill. The kids were wide eyed because they had never seen one before and were trying to figure out how they could have one sometime.

I got Malcolm a movie and a charging station for his gadgets

Amanda, Tyler and their children got Dad a watch with pedometer to keep track of his walking. Just as he began to open it, Mason blurted out enthusiastically "It's a watch! very cute

I prepared a dinner and small party for Malcolm's birthday yesterday and had Malcolm's Mom and Tyler and Amanda and their children over. It was quiet, but fun and we enjoyed steak, fruit salad, broccoli salad, baked beans and bread and Malcolm's favorite chocolate cake with a marshmallow type frosting. Lots of Love to my wonderful husband on his birthday!

Our Journey this week!

Mom - she is wonderful!

Kylie's Diploma with Mom, Ben and Grant

Kylie doing a dance at her kindergarten graduation

Joan and Larry Goss who live in Fresno

My brother Steve and his wife Erin who live in Provo

Miles Graduation at Rancho Cucamonga High School

New Friends I met on the train from North Carolina

A couple of weeks ago, I got on the train in Sacramento and rode to Provo, Utah to visit some of our family there. Our Son, Daniel picked me up at the train depot. I spent a couple of days visiting with Dan & Kris and my Mom. On Thursday, Malcolm drove up to Utah and we attended a T-ball game of Kylie's, then went to her kindergarten graduation the next day. One day my brother Steve brought fish and chips to Mom and we had lunch and visited for the afternoon and really enjoyed their visit. Sunday We attended church with Dan and Kris and so enjoyed their ward and the nice people there. We did some projects for Mom and I fell and got an egg on my knee and hurt my right shoulder, but I'm ok. I found out that rubbing butter on an egg will take the swelling down.
We left Mom's on Monday and drove to Cedar City to visit our friends, Ann Sherwood and her Dad, Cal Kahler. They took us out to an authentic Mexican dinner and loved the food and had a great visit with them both.
The next morning we left and drove to Rancho Cucamonga and got a Motel, then met at Mauri's home to visit with the boys and Miles. The graduation was ay 6:30 PM but we got to the stadium at 5:15 and got into the stadium about an hour and half later - there was only one entrance for 7,000 people. The graduation was nice and well organized. Afterwards we went to Mauri's home and had a supper with Mike, the boys, Mauri and her Dad and friend. We left the next day and drove to Fresno and visited with old friends, Joan and Larry Goss and had dinner and watched a movie and slept well. We got home Thursday! We had a good time!!

Our Weekend in Redding

Grandpa ordained Jon to be a Deacon and he was thrilled

The whole family with Jon - Grandma Weston joined us for the trip

The 10 little golden retriever puppies

We had a memorable weekend in Redding with Val, Don, Nicole and Jon. Jon was ordained a Deacon and was very mature and sweet about his experience. We also celebrated Jon's birthday and Mother's Day with them. We had the opportunity to see their new (10) puppies and oohed and aahed over how cute they are. We had some lightning and thunder for excitement too. Val and Don barbecued hamburger and we had ice cream, strawberries and brownies- really yummy food!!

Mother's Day Memories

Beautiful Fuchia plant from Val and Don

Beautiful Flowers from Brian and Deb

Terrific crockpot cooking book from Amanda & Tyler

Memorable silver spoons from Todd & Billie with Love, Family, Friends & Joy

I've always wanted a Sego Palm so Malcolm got one for me this year!

I feel spoiled and grateful for a very thoughtful family! The pictures above are some evidences of their very sweet spirits and I am so blessed and grateful to be remembered. I love my husband and children so much!

Food For Thought!

  I found this this interesting
thought and felt it worth sharing:

Life should not be a
journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty
and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, thoroughly used up and totally worn out
loudly yelling " WHAT A RIDE "

Peter Sage

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Michael and the grandkids

Amanda has been sick with pneumonia the past week so we have had the children until Tyler comes home. One day our Son Michael stopped by and played with the three youngest - Paige, Carson and Mason and they had a ball wrestling, playing with quarters he gave them and just having fun. He wore them all out so Carson and Mason took a nap afterwards - so fun have a fun uncle!

Happy Birthday, Dan!!

Happy Birthday, Dan!! What a wonderful Son, Dad, Husband and so much more! You have brought us so much joy and happiness and love the things you do with your own family. We wish you a terrific birthday and send you our love!

Mardi Gras Dance with Rachel's Girl Scouts

This was a the patch Malcolm got at the dance

Malcolm and I drove to Napa Saturday to spend some time with Brian, Deb, Rachel and Matt. Rachel invited Dad to a "Favorite Fellow" dance for Girl Scouts with a Mardi Gras theme. Before they left, we all went to a very delicious Italian Dinner House for dinner and everyone had Salmon, but me. I love it, but the plates were too large for me to finish it all. It was beautiful land built in the midst of vineyards with interesting sculptures and gardens where they grow the vegetables they cook. Anyway it was fun. Then Malcolm and Rachel went to the dance and Malcolm showed Rachel some interesting dance steps and they had a blast! While they were gone, we watched a movie and had some Coldstone ice cream - my favorite with berries. Thanks to Brian and Deb for a terrific evening. We were tired when we got home, but it was so worth it!

A Visit with Grandma Eastland

I borrowed this picture of my Mom with Amanda's children - thanks to Amanda. She had a visit and family home evening with Dan and Amanda's children and had such a good time and wonderful memories of all the children and their enthusiasm.

Flowering plants

Spring is the perfect time of the year with blossoming flowers and plants, cool evening, warm day, and a bit of rain. We are enjoying all of the plants in our yard!

Spring in Blossom on our block

I love these soft and beautifu blossoming Pear trees this time of year. The whole street is anchored by them!

David Foster and Friends

David Foster on Great Performances

Malcolm and I watched a wonderful and inspiring musical performance tonight on public television featuring David Foster and some of the remarkable people he has associated with and assisted in the music field. If you get a chance to watch it - Do. We ordered the DVD and CD so we could listen again -